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Overview

Property

Rosa sleeps 6+2 people and Jasmina up to 4 people respectively.

"La Violina" is our beautifully restored C16th Tuscan farmhouse set in peaceful countryside with lovely views towards Cortona and the Tuscan hills. The property is divided vertically into two private self-contained houses - Rosa and Jasmina.

Rosa sleeps up to six (6) people having one en-suite double bedroom and two twin bedrooms with a shared bathroom.

For larger groups of eight (8) people an additional ensuite double bedroom, accessed downstairs, can also be made available at the owners discretion. Please note there is a price surcharge of approximately 20% levied on the list price should this unit be required.

Jasmina sleeps up to 4 people with a double bedroom and bathroom plus a twin room with en-suite. Rosa and Jasmina can be rented together or seperately.

La Violina is exclusively situated in 13 acres of private land consisting of a small pine copse, 200 olive trees and 1 acre of private landscaped gardens with a 7 x 14 metre saline swimming pool. The pool is situated behind the house in the middle of the gardens and is open early May until late September. It is edged with travertine marble and surrounded by an antique brick patio. A large pergola and umbrellas provide shade and all outdoor furniture is of high quality. Rosa and Jasmina have their own separate outdoor eating areas.

Both Rosa and Jasmina have been furnished with a stylish mix of antique and contemporary furniture. Very importantly the beds are very comfortable with high quality mattresses. When people are on holiday we believe a good night's sleep just as essential as it is at home. Comfy sofa's in spacious living rooms with access to tv, internet (approx 15mb) and books provides a relaxing indoor space.

"La Violina" is ideally situated for visiting the wonderful regions of Tuscany and Umbria. Perhaps most importantly and the main reason we bought the house, is its proximity to Cortona, a less than 15 minutes drive away. It is an Etruscan town whose origins are older than Rome. Although small it is perfectly formed! Aside from its great architecture and historic importance the town is blessed with wonderful restaurants, gelateria's, coffee bars etc. The monasteries and churches are beautiful, the museums excellent and the festivals which take place throughout the year are great fun. Its close proximity means you can easily visit on a daily basis but if one evening it feels too far why not head to Casa di Francesca, one of the best restaurant's in the area, and only a 10 minute walk from Violina.

For those seeking to explore further afield access to a major trunk road is an easy 5 minute drive. From there within 30-60 minutes are Montepulciano, Pienza, Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi, Siena and Orvietto to name a few. San Gimignano and Volterra are only a little further. Also of great convenience is the local railway station which is 5 minutes from the house. Here express trains can be boarded to Florence or Rome, enabling a day's sightseeing.

Lago Trasimeno, the 4th largest lake in Italy, is 10 minutes away, where boat trips, wind-surfing, and child friendly man-made beaches are found. Bike hire and trekking are just two ways with which to explore around the lake.

La Violina is on the wine route "La Strada del Vino", which links Cortona with Montepulciano. Wine tasting nearby can be arranged at La Braccesca (Antinori), Avignonesi, Poliziano and many others.

Large living room with feature arch and fireplace. The room is beautifully furnished with contemporary sofas and stylish furniture. TV/DVD, Freeview, WiFi. The well equipped kitchen is stunning with large beams and island work station. All worktops are marble with ceramic double sink. Appliances Bosch dishwasher, SMEG fridge/freezer and double oven range cooker. Oak farmhouse table extends to seat 12. Second fridge/freezer and washing machine in utility room. Upstairs reading room with stone fireplace and comfy sofa. Off this room is a queen sized double bedroom with en-suite shower room and walk in closet. In addition two twin bedrooms with shared bathroom featuring mosaic tiles and marble basin. Either twin can be made as a double. On the ground floor is a 4th bedroom with beautiful queen sized bed and full ensuite, available at the owners discretion for an additional 20% levy on list price. Rosa can comfortably accommodate up to 8 people. Separate large pergola for al fresco dining

Sleeps 8

4 Bedrooms

3 Bathrooms

Parking

Garden

Swimming pool

Barbecue

Internet

Dish washer

Washing machine

Towels provided

Linens provided

Accept Credit Cards

Bookable online

Top Traveller Review

Fantastic place in a great location

My family and I hired both Rosa and Jasmina in May 2016 and we couldn't have been happier. The properties are fantastic. They have obviously been cared for as you can see the little touches here and there.

The location was great as you are reasonably isolated so you have your own space but at the same time there is so much to do in the area. While there we visited the nearby lakes, Cortona, Florance and Siena.

Lastly the owners were fantastic. They went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed and provided information on the area and suggestions on what to do/try.

My only slight negative is the price but for the time we spent their its well worth it.

About the Owner

Our love affair with Italy began in the 1990's and continues to grow. Now that we have both retired from our respective careers we have been able to enjoy more of our time in this beautiful country, getting to know its people, culture, history and many delights.

14 Reviews

5

based on 14 holidaymaker reviews

Fantastic place in a great location

My family and I hired both Rosa and Jasmina in May 2016 and we couldn't have been happier. The properties are fantastic. They have obviously been cared for as you can see the little touches here and there.

The location was great as you are reasonably isolated so you have your own space but at the same time there is so much to do in the area. While there we visited the nearby lakes, Cortona, Florance and Siena.

Lastly the owners were fantastic. They went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed and provided information on the area and suggestions on what to do/try.

My only slight negative is the price but for the time we spent their its well worth it.

What an Amazing Place!

We were a family of four travelling with two young children (7 and 3) and concluded two weeks in Italy with a full week at Rosa. By any measure this was the highlight of our trip. The villa is spacious with every amenity, and the kids enjoyed the swimming pool and the little soccer pitch on the property. The villa is located very close to Cortona, Assisi, Montepulciano, Siena, Florence and countless other little towns that make it easy to combine leisurely sightseeing with enjoying the house and property.

Our hosts, Vicki, Steven and their friendly dog Rosie, were also very helpful during our stay, with recommendations of restaurants and excursions. They also came by during our stay to make sure everything the property and pool were in perfect condition.

I really think that pictures and even this review can't do justice to the property and our hosts, but I've given it a try anyway :-) Thank you so much for such a wonderful stay, we can't wait to visit again!

Villa Violina

This site with the two residences was ideal, Rosa and Jasmine. A lovely private setting. The property lived up to everything that was advertised. When we arrived at Rosa, the owners Vicky and Steven were there to greet us and make sure we were comfortable and familiar with everything. The four of us had rented the Rosa side which has four bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. There is lots of comfortable living space and the grounds were well maintained including a beautiful pool with adequate chairs and loungers. The villa was spotless. The bedding was of high quality and the beds were very comfortable. There are lots of cooking utensils, dishes, spices, and 2 fridges. So if you had a big group there would not be a problem to accommodate. The eating area is a great place to enjoy your meal and sit around talking about the day and planning the next day. If you need time be yourself there is plenty of room to do this. The livingroom offers comfortable seating and a tranquil atmosphere.

The Villa is about a 15-20 min drive to Cortona where there is lots to see and do there and the view of the Tuscany valley is spectacular. It is also within a 10 min drive from the train station where we caught the train (approx 1 hr ride) to spend the day in Florence. It was perfect. It was an easy 10 min drive to buy our groceries.

The owners have a great binder in the Villa explaining places to see etc.

We would highly recommend this villa as your destination for a week or more. The area has so much to offer and the villa itself is perfect in every way. This villa is a place where you will immediately feel at home and relaxed so you can enjoy your Tuscany holiday. Absolutely superb vacation!!! We will be back one day.

Absolutely stunning!

I can't imagine a better place to stay in Tuscany; Violina is perfect in every way.

We had the pleasure of staying in Rosa and Jasmina during the last week of August and were a mixed group of friends with children aged from three to twelve years.

The two houses have been beautifully and lovingly restored, with just the right amount of rustic Italian charm and comfort in equal measures. The kitchens are stocked with everything you could ever need utensil wise to prepare a feast of any size and stature, or choice of any cocktail - our watermelon martinis hit the spot! The beds are beyond comfortable and very difficult to leave.

The grounds are absolutely stunning, with masses of space for the requisite games of footie and boule alike, and even the odd yoga class! The biggest salt water pool you could ask for takes centre stage and was happily our base for the week in-between trips to one of the two pergolas for heavenly sun-drenched breakfasts, lazy long lunches and balmy al fresco suppers.

The nearby, very old and very beautiful Cortona, a town that pre dates Rome, just oozes history and is a must-visit. The views are simply incredible and we had a perfect supper under the stars overlooking the ancient square.

This is a very special place, one that I couldn't recommend more highly. A stunning sanctuary in a beautiful part of the world.. be prepared to never want to leave.

Thank you Vicki and Steven, for sharing your little piece of paradise, and for the memories, we had the best week EVER.

The best villa in Tuscany!

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Just like it's hard to capture the beauty of this magical villa in pictures, it's hard for me to capture how special the place truly is to us. We stayed in Jasmina at the beginning of June as a family of three (myself, husband and daughter, 2 yrs). It was absolutely perfect. All the charm of a rustic Tuscan villa on the outside and the comfort, fabulous style and care you'd love to replicate in your own home on the inside. We were lucky to be there when the owners, Vicki and Stephen, were there as well. They provide a very detailed list of the area attractions in your villa but having them there to share their favorites was such a bonus to our stay. We truly got a glimpse into how much love and care they put into the villa and the grounds (which are breathtaking!) Our daughter enjoyed the open space and we enjoyed the quiet retreat of the country and the close proximity to some of Tuscany's best towns. Vicki took us on a tour of Rosa while we were there and I would HIGHLY recommend staying if you have a party of 6 or 8. It is absolutely out of this world. I kept telling Vicki that the pictures just don't do it justice. They have really created something special with both units. From a functional standpoint, they have a top of the line dishwasher and washing machine in the unit and the bathrooms are divine. Wonderful showers, very comfortable beds/sofas (perhaps the most comfortable beds in "rustic" Tuscany), beautiful garden area filled with flowers and a private outdoor eating area where we ate leisurely lunch and breakfasts. The rooms are spacious and there is plenty of room for your whole family. Looking at the picture listed here of Jasmina, you'd never guess there was a crib and a rocking chair next to the bed in the master. The rooms really are so much bigger than they appear. The towns are very close (Cortona 15 min, Montipulciano 25-30, Pienza 40) and the train station is only 5 minutes away. The surrounding area has a nearby grocery store and all the amenities you'd need are within a 10 minute drive. Word of advice: take Vicki's advice about dining at Casa Francesca which is a 5 minute hop down the road. It was the best food we had while in Italy. Order the plum gnocchi! I can't stress enough how much we enjoyed our stay here. We were already imagining a future trip with our extended family. It is a magical place and we can't wait to return!

Another great Tuscan holiday

This is the second time we have stayed at La Violina, a very special and perfectly kept Tuscan retreat. We enjoyed it so much last year that a return visit was a must.

With two active teenagers and only a week for two tired adults to escape and unwind I need to rely on the quality of a villa and make sure it has all the things our particular family need namely an excellent pool, very comfy bedrooms, plenty of space, internet access, excellent kitchen facilities, privacy and ease of access to beautiful hill top towns, Italian culture and, obviously, decent coffee, ice-cream and eateries.

This villa does not disappoint. The large, clean pool - which you share with the neighbouring villa is very well kept and surrounded by pretty plants, umbrellas and loungers, the grounds, the extremely friendly hosts and the stunning location - just 10 minutes from beautiful Cortona - all contributed to a really wonderful week. The previous reviews cover everything and the photos on the owners' website are very accurate.

I also appreciated the fact that on arrival everywhere is spotlessly clean and an order of groceries can be waiting for you if required.

We chose to rent Villa Rosa, the larger of the two properties, which perhaps is a little pricey for some but a real treat and worth every penny. Thank you Vicki and Steven.

Location

From the Owner

“It took over 5 years of searching before we identified and bought Violina for our home in Italy. We think the house is beautiful; a mix of brick and stone that has developed over the centuries. Podere Violina has been on the local maps for over 500 years and is classed as a building of historic artistic value; the equivalent of a listed building in the UK.”

Violina is located less than 10 minutes away from Italy's 4th largest lake, Trasimeno, which provides the scene of Hannibals great victory in 217 BC over the troops of Roman consul Flaminius. The house, in its own landscaped gardens within a rural setting, enjoys views toward the Tuscan-Umbrian hills and the

historic Etruscan town of Cortona. Montepulciano is less than 30 minutes drive away.

Golf: The Golf Club Perugia course is set in gently undulating parkland north of Lake Trasimeno. It is a Par 72 - SSS 70 - 6,272 yards in length, partly dating from the 1950's and redesigned by the Architect Davide Mezzacane and increased to 18 holes in the early '90's. The holes are not exceptionally long, but the rich vegetation, and mature trees lining many fairways call for precision, particularly with the drive, and on the fast, undulating greens.There is an excellent practice ground with open and covered bays, two chipping greens and a practice putting green. Two resident professionals are in attendance. There are also 3 separate par 3 holes.

Additional pricing information

Fees

No additional mandatory fees

NB: ALL PRICES QUOTED FOR ROSA ARE FOR ACCOMMODATING UP TO 6 PEOPLE. We offer small discounts for groups of 4 people or less; please enquire for a quote. For groups that require the additional 4th double bedroom and en-suite, located on the ground floor, there is an approximate 20% surcharge on the list price. Please note this room is only available at the owners discretion.

Owner's Cancellation Policy

Please ask the owner or check their rental agreement when booking the property.

Facilities

From the Owner

“The restoration work of Violina is complete and so today it offers peaceful and extremely comfortable accommodation for those seeking time out in Tuscany and neighbouring Umbria. Whilst it is sometimes difficult to pull oneself away from the house its close proximity to Cortona is always a draw. Without doubt Cortona is a very special place and is a key reason why we purchased Violina.
The restoration is complete but the project is not. Each year we aim to undertake one or two projects to continue to improve the house and grounds (over and above general maintenance / redecorating etc). The works have just been completed for the formation of a new olive grove in the grounds where a further 50 trees will be planted in spring 2013. Our 'guestbook' in Rosa and Jasmina is always open and we welcome further suggestions on how to improve the house from all our guests and to whom we say a big thank-you for all those who have supported us thus far.”

Bedrooms

Outside

Garden

Barbecue

Patio

Terrace

12 garden chairs

14 deck chairs

Meals

Self-catering

Notes:

The downstairs has good accessibility for wheelchairs with double doors and no steps between the living room, kitchen / dining area and downstairs bedroom with en-suite bathroom. However please note there are no specific items of equipment for frail or disabled guests such as bath lifts or grab rails in the bathroom.

When would you like to stay?

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